Getting here
Whether you are travelling by sea, air or car, there are endless ways to travel to the island
By Sea
There are three boat companies that offer services from the main land to Vancouver Island; BC Ferries, Hullo and Coho.
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Horseshoe Bay Terminal is located in Central Nanaimo and services to Horseshoe Bay.
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Duke Point Terminal is located 20 minutes south of Nanaimo with services to Horseshoe Bay and Tsawassen.
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Reservations are strongly recommended. Fares can vary depending on vehicle size, number of passengers and sailing time (early morning and late-night ferries are typically cheaper)
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Crossing is 1hr40 minutes (from horseshoe bay) and 2 hours (from Tsawwassen)
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- Connects downtown Vancouver with downtown Nanaimo
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Passenger-only ferry, no car
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There are taxis and shuttle services available at each terminal
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Crossing time is approximately 70 minutes
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Coho (USA Ferry Services)
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Services between Victoria and Port Angeles WA.
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Crossing takes approximately 90 minutes
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By Air
Nanaimo offers three options for air travel:
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YCD - Nanaimo Airport
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Offer service to various destinations
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The airport is located 20 minutes south of Nanaimo
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Taxis and rental car kiosks are available at the terminal
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It is not an international airport, you cannot fly directly from the U.S. to Nanaimo.
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Floatplanes
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Harbour Air offers flights between Nanaimo Harbour and downtown Vancouver, as well as to various coastal destinations
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Seair Seaplanes offers scheduled flights between Nanaimo and YVR(Richmond)
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A more premium option, offering service between downtown Vancouver, YVR and Nanaimo
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Housing
Find a Realtor
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We have list of member recommended Real Estate Agents that we can connect you with
Rental Options
Nanaimo Division Accommodation List
These hosts have agreed to offer their accommodation at a specified "Physician Rate". Our goal is to make the process for Physicians visiting or temporarily working in Nanaimo as easy and affordable as possible.
School District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) has a total of 28 Elementary Schools and 6 Secondary Schools.
Education can be either in English or French. Learn more about enrolling your children in French Immersion.
BC Education System Performance Review: Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District
Nanaimo has private schools should you desire your children receive an alternative education.
Private Schools
Nanaimo has one University, Vancouver Island University, as well as a handful of Colleges;
Education
Resources
We are pleased that you are considering making Nanaimo your home. While we are confident that you will love this community as much as we do, we know that there is much to do in the relocation process, and it can be stressful. To make this transition more comfortable, we have compiled a list of resources intended to help you better settle in. For a comprehensive list of resources, download the Nanaimo Business Resources & Relocation Guide
Child Care Resources
Eats, Treats & Recreation
Walks & Hikes Unique to Nanaimo
Top Recommendations
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Neck Point Park - Located off Hammond Bay road, you will see signs. Beautiful walk along the ocean, the prettiest most popular walk for everyone
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Maffeo Sutton Park - Located Downtown, come walk Nanaimo's waterfront Promenade and become a part of our local culture. Look out for the Silly Boat Regatta or Dragon Boat Festival while you are there!
Casual walks
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Pipers Lagoon - Located off Hammond Bay road, much the same as Neck Point Park. Very pretty along with on of Nanaimo's most beautiful beaches.
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Linley Valley(Cottle Lake Park) - Entrances off Rock City Road or Hammond Bay Road, nice wooded trails around Cottle Lake.
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Bowen Parks - Located off Bowen Road, a series of trails along the millstone river. Don't forget to stop at the duck pond!
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Westwood lake Park - Located in the foothills of Mount Benson, a nice well-groomed loop with an off-leash dog area on the far side of the lake.
For the adventurous
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Others to look up if you want more of a challenge
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Ammonite Falls
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Mount Benson
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Disclamer: Links and references to any other websites are provided for information only and listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. The Nanaimo Division of Family Practice is not responsible for the content or reliability of the linked websites and does not endorse the content, products, services, or views expressed within them
